Stocking Madness

   I made DH a new Christmas Stocking. He's a HUGE Alabama Crimson Tide fan. Apparently so is Rebel, the younger of my two Maltese. He got on top of my cutouts. I used the red for the lining. I think he was trying to claim this one, but well...DH is much, MUCH bigger lol.

 I had DH helping with the design and placement of the applique, which is wool felt. I've really gotten into using wool felt, at least for Christmas appliques. I'm not 100% sure why, but I think it really gives things a Christmas feel. I embroidered the Alabama 'A' on the football, I'd meant to do it before I sewed the parts all together but forgot. I had to do it once it was totally finished, but it didn't turn out too bad, and I only tried to sew the entire stocking together once.

DH absolutely loved this stocking, and has taken pictures to e-mail to his cousin and daddy back in NC, they too are Alabama fans.

 I used the same fabric as the lining for the heel patch and the background for the snowman. DH wouldn't let me add bells to the toes, aparently that is not manly lol. We decided to go for the cuff instead of the ruffle for the same reason, I think. I'm rather impressed with myself for getting the fabric direction right on both sides of the stocking. Notice the snowman's helmut? I cut out on of the helmuts from the fabric, fabric glued it to the wool and zig zagged around it all. I don't intend for this to be washed much so I'm hoping it won't fray.

  I've got myself into it though, now Little Bit has decided she wants a princess stocking, so I'm going to have to hit either Walmart or Fabricland, as the quilt stores here don't stock anything like that, mostly because the quality of the fabric isn't very good. My thinking is when she's older she'll want another stocking that suits her more so the fact it won't survive too many years doesn't matter. 

 Wool felt always felt primitive to me,and I'm not really a huge fan of the primitive style. It just doesn't suit me I guess, but then I started seeing it used in non-primitive work and really loved the texture, and warm feel it adds to things. So when the one of the projects from the blog hop awhile ago was a wool penny mat I decided to try it, and LOVED it. So now I'm a wool convert, total novice still as I've worked with nothing but wool felt, and those just the colours I can pick up at the store, but it is fun, and especially for tiny pieces easier then fabric applique.

 I got the border added onto my baby quilt. I really like how it accents the piano key middle border. I'm hoping to get this sandwiched and quilted this weekend. I'll then sew the prairie points on and add the binding. I think that will work best. I'm using a large fleece panel/blanket that was on sale for the back, and maybe I'll leave out the batting all together. I love using soft, fuzzy backs for baby/smaller children quilts. It just makes them so cozy!

I got the pictures from Little Bit doing the draw yesterday! Ignore the mess and her wearing her towel as pjs, my moment of reality if you will lol.  I interupted her play time to get the pictures. She is feeling some better today, only a slight fever, compared to the raging one yesterday. I've fingures crossed she'll be well enough to go to the Christmas concert tonight at her school.

I think I missed the postman yesterday so I'll have to wait to this evening or tomorrow to pick up my package at the post office. I'm hoping its my Christmas present from the Elves at Fat Quarter Shop. Speaking of which, they are doing 12 Days of Christmas so you should head over. Every day a different line will be on sale! I'm heading over now.

Have a great day!